Bonuses to bow damage

[DiagorasRadix]

I have a small dilemma. I enjoy the look of the bound bow, but am put off by the inability to upgrade it beyond the increased bound damage perk. I have heard that regular bows can get to the point where you can consistently one- and two-shot most enemies. Can using a bound bow ever get close to this? How much +bow damage enchantments would I need to get in order to do so?

 

[3v3r]

No I don't think so. Just choose the damage and critical shot perks. You won't have as good damage but it will be ok.

 

[psyk0]

Based on my (albeit limited) research, the Bound Bow with Mystic Binding will do 24 base damage, plus 24 from the Bound Arrows, for a total of 48. With the right perks it'll also have Soul Trap and Banish.

A Daedric Bow is 19 base damage plus 24 for Daedric Arrows (good luck finding a ready supply of those), but improved to Legendary quality (requiring 91 smithing with the perk) the bow can be improved to 29 - for a total output of 53. It can also be enchanted however you like.

The main difference is that you can cast a Bound Bow at full power with a mere 50 conjuration and 4 perks, and get essentially limitless arrows, whereas the Daedric Bow will require a much larger investment of time and gold.